The Sapp safari: a lion photo shoot

SignOnSanDiego.com ^ | 8/22/03 | Bill Suda

[LibWhacker]

Detroit Lions don't scare Tampa Bay Bucs star Warren Sapp, but a 750-pound African lion named Poncho did the job.

Sapp posed with the 14-year-old beast for a newspaper photo.

"I can't believe I did it, but I did," Sapp told Roger Mills of the St. Petersburg Times. "I can't believe I risked my life for the Miami Herald. I'm less than 365 days from a nice payday; this is a risk I really don't have to take. . . . (I told them) if this cat growls, snarls or anything at one of these people who work with him on a day-to-day basis, the shoot is over before it ever begins."

Sapp said the lion's mane and head was four times the size of himself.

"They're feeding him meatball snacks and I'm thinking, I'm a lot more meatballs than those little meats they're giving him out of the pot there," Sapp said. "This cat might decide, 'I'm going to take a bite out of the big fella.' I'm looking at the headlines, The Lion maims the Bear (Sapp's nickname)."

The scariest moment, Sapp said, came when the trainer asked for a personal photo, then backed away to take the shot.

"I'm standing there by myself, just me and (the lion), two feet away," Sapp said. "I started feeling a little faint."

[PetroniDE]

Oh, Come on. I want to see a picture of the little kitty that scared Sapp.

[LibWhacker]

Me too; 750 is a BIG lion.

[PetroniDE]

Here is a picture of the huge lion that scared the big, bad, football player.

MEOW !

[PetroniDE]

Is this the picture?

[LibWhacker]

Warren Sapp of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 750-pound Black Maned African Lion "Pancho" strike similar poses on location near the Tampa Bay practice facility in Tampa. At left is David McMillan, president of Tiger's Eye Productions in Oviedo, who provided Pancho for the photo shoot, keeps Pancho's attention with meatballs.

[LibWhacker]

LOL.

[Allegra]

Is this the picture?

Nahhh...it was this guy who scared Sapp. (He thinks he's a lion. Shhhhh....don't tell him otherwise...)

[PetroniDE]

I need to bookmark that picture. I may use it on Monday for the Kitty Caption thread.

[PetroniDE]

Nah, it was your other cat. First she bites democrats, then she bites Buccaneers.

[Allegra]

Ahhh...you mean this kitty. Actually, she bites Dallas Cowboys. I trained her to do that. They quail at the sight of her.

[CheezyD]

Sapp's a punk cheapshot artist blowhard. IMHO of course.

[Allegra]

Sapp's a punk cheapshot artist blowhard. IMHO of course.

C'mon! Tell us how you really feel! No need to hold back. :-)

[Gunslingr3]

Sapp's a punk cheapshot artist blowhard. IMHO of course.

"If you're so tough why don't you put a uniform on!" ;) Your freeper handle gives it away.

Regardless, on the football field you better be paying attention until the whistle blows or you might get hurt.

[humblegunner]

It's Finbar the Fierce!

[LubyGee]

Exactly!!

There are very few defensive players in the league that are of the same caliber as Sapp, but he is a complete jerk. He should have paid more attention to Lynch's demeanor. I'd be surprised if he gets a new contract! At least that's the consensus at our Buccaneer home!

[w_over_w]

Sorry I missed the earlier posts . . . been vacationing. Anyway here's the kitty that they are talking about . . .

Damn!

[Allegra]

It's Finbar the Fierce!

He likes to be taken for the occasional "spin."

[dighton]

Recording Leo the MGM Lion, 1928.

[LibKill]

Recipe for a long life.

1. Eat boring food.

2. Avoid Alcohol and Tobacco. (boring)

3. Avoid military or police service. (cowardly)

4. (AND THIS IS NO S--T!) AT ALL COSTS AVOID LARGE ANIMALS WITH CLAWS, FANGS AND/OR HORNS. (optional for hunters and cowboys.)

:)